Pediatrician Appointment {09.15.15}

The six month appointment time has rolled around once more. Although when I mentioned to Sarah that she was going to the doctor, she was a little stressed, by the time we arrived, she had relaxed and did wonderfully well. I was so proud of her!

Today's stats are:

• weighs 40 pounds (4th percentile)
• is 3 feet, 9 inches inches tall (7th percentile) 
• head circumference is 46.6 centimetres (-3.5 standard deviation) 

The pediatrician did a few little baseline tests on her so we could get a bit of an idea where she's at developmentally. 

Her fine motor skills are about 25% of her age, so 2.5 years, her gross motor skills around 50%, about 3.5 years old and her verbal skills closer to 60% which is around 4 years old. Cognitively, he thought she was around 4 years old as well. He did say that her social skills were at a perfect 100% and he's very pleased with her progress. She even gave him a big hug on her own accord before we left and I think he was quite delighted by that. 

So, based on this information, I will hopefully be able to find some time in the next little while creating a personalized curriculum for Sarah where she will learn about the things that matter the most to her. We will work on relationship and problem solving skills that are pertinent to her. 

Pediatrician Appointment {03.19.15}

Sarah recently had another doctor appointment. This was just a routine follow up where her growth is plotted, ensuring she's still growing. Although she was a little anxious while we were getting there, the appointment went amazingly well. She stood where she was supposed to in order to be measured, was so chatty that the doctor was very impressed and not a single tear was shed. What a difference this was compared to a year ago!

The good news is that she is growing in height and weight. She is 43 inches tall and 37 pounds. She is now on the percentile charts! Her head remains the same at 46 centimetres which has been this size since December 2013. On a growth chart, she is now almost -4 units below standard deviation.

An average sized head would be closer to 50-52 centimetres and although a 4-6 cm difference doesn't seem like much, it is a pretty big gap when we're talking about head sizes. Unfortunately, there is really nothing I can do to make her brain grow.

After we finished at the doctor's office, we headed to my sister's where Sarah and Rosie played and watched a movie together. It was a nice way to end the morning.

Pediatrician Appointment {09.18.14}

For the first time (ever?) Sarah did not cry at the doctor's appointment. She wasn't exactly cheerful but she wasn't in her typical meltdown mood. It was just a quick weigh in and measure up check so we were in and out within 15 minutes.

She's doing just fine and the pediatrician said I'm doing "too good of a job of caring for her." And with that, he said we didn't have to come back for SIX months unless I had any concerns and we can come in at any time.

She is 43 inches tall (6th percentile), 37 pounds (4th percentile) and her head is 46 centimeters (-3.5 units below Standard Deviation). This measurement has not changed since last December.

Last Sunday, I got a little pony tail in her hair for church! She didn't love it but tolerated it. 

I thought she looked SO cute!

Pediatrician Appointment {06.10.14}

On Tuesday morning, Sarah and I headed out to the doctor for her quarterly visit. On this day, there was no snow storm, no icy roads and no university traffic. I must have made it there in record time!

It started out to be pretty discouraging when Sarah began to cry. In the van. In the driveway. I felt deflated and we hadn't even moved but thankfully she settled down and we headed off. This entire visit to the pediatrician was the most pleasant that I've experienced in a long time. Once we arrived, she wasn't happy or even in a good mood but she was pleasant and cooperative. One of the things that I notice with her is that she seems scared and nervous. I try to ease those fearful feelings simply by telling her that it's going to be okay, nothing will hurt as well as lots of prep beforehand. We talked about the doctor looking in her ears and mouth as well as listening to her tummy. My girlfriend's daughter has an app on the iPad that is an interactive doctor's visit and the two girls would play on that once in a while. Maybe that helped? I'm not too sure.

Overall, the doctor seemed satisfied with her and he said she's simply growing at her own (slow) pace.

In six months she's gone from 33 to 34 pounds (less than 3rd percentile) and she's grown half an inch and is now 42 inches tall (4th percentile).

She was pretty snuggly while waiting for the doctor.

14 years ago...

I had no idea that when said good bye after a family wiener roast just a day or two earlier, I wouldn't ever see my mom alive again.

July. 13. 1999. The date that will be forever etched in my mind. The day that my mom took her final breath on earth and went home to be with her eternal Father. As I've put her memories in the forefront of my mind the past few days, I find it hard to create, yet another blog post. So I'm using the one I wrote in 2011. Very little has changed. I've gotten older, the kids keep growing and time doesn't stop. In fact, it's hard to believe she's been gone for 14 years already. There was a time where I was sure I wouldn't be able to survive. But I have. This is what I found that I wrote two years ago:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 13, 2011:

Today I found the words that I spoke at my Mom's funeral.  It's quite long but I thank you for hearing my heart.  Also remember, I was quite a bit younger and in emotional turmoil.  Any quotes from my Mom are in italics.

"My mom put her whole life in God's hands. Much of what I will try to say today is from the journals she wrote in. Shortly before her surgery in April, she had written: 

“How could I leave? How could my family make it without me? All I could do was hang onto my faith that night and over the next few days. God took me through the valley. His answer was simple, 'I love you and I love your family and no matter what the outcome, I will take care of all of you.'”

She continues to write:

“God will help John and the kids through and I have to trust Him to just that. My mom died when I was 29 in 1984 and I felt I was much too young. My kids are younger and I can't even think of what it would be like for them. My greatest fear is that they will turn away from God in anger.”

I truly believe the opposite has happened. My faith in God has become much stronger since her illness began in December of 1997. She was a light that shone to me and helped me get through the storms. After reading numerous journals, I know that it was God who helper her along and it is God who will continue to help me along as well.

The next thing I want to say came from a piece she wrote titled On Being a Mom. It is too long to read entirely so I chose some special lines.

“I love my children and it has always been important to me that they know it and feel it. I hugged and kissed my babies, they often fell asleep on my chest. I tried to tell them I loved them. I used words, actions, and connections. I tried to listen and really hear them. I tried to make each feel special, protected, encouraged and obedient. I tried to mold their behaviour so they would be likeable children. I tried to teach them clear moral standards and the meaning of loyalty and sharing. I encouraged them to be their own person. I taught them to work hard and do their best. To live with gusto and enthusiasm.”

After reading that, I realized that I want to be the mom to Joshua that she was to me. I feel that those are a set of guidelines that I need to follow and raise my own son by. I hope I do a good job. The last thing I want to quote is a prayer Mom wrote on August 4, 1998.

“Father in Heaven, I ask in the name of your Son Jesus, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, that I may be healed completely. Fully and totally healed and restored. I long to be whole and physically strong. Please hear my prayer O God.”

The first time I read that, I was angry with God. Why didn't He answer her desperate plea? Why couldn't he have done that for her? Then I began to realize that He did. Maybe not the way we would have wanted – to have her earthy heart healed – but I know her Heavenly heart is beating in perfect rhythm. She is running down the streets of gold praising the God she fully trusted. She is a witness to me and I have learned a lot from her and her personal testimony. I thank God for the special times I shared with her after Joshua was born and I will treasure those days forever. I would just like to add:

Mom, you taught me everything I know – how to cook, clean, and bake; how to be a good wife and mom. You were the best teacher in the world, and as my role model, I hope I continue to live the way you would have wanted me to. I will never forget the many talks we had and any time I have a cup of tea, I'll be thinking of you.  You were my best friend in the whole world and I wasn't ready to say good-bye.  We are both too young to lose each other and I still need you more than ever.  On Tuesday morning, I promised I would take care of Joshua for you, and I know you'll be watching out for us.   I love you Mom and will miss you always."

Yesterday, Doug's parents stopped by. With these for me:

 When we had these family pictures done, my dad had requested 

one of just my mom. The photographer did an

amazing job of capturing her beauty, inside and out.

Comparing...

I find myself frequently comparing my children to each other or to other children.  Because Joshua and Andrea are only 16 months apart, I must keep myself in check and not expect as much of Andrea as I do of Joshua.  Especially when it comes to their schooling.  Joshua is naturally smart and things come easy to him where with Andrea, it takes a bit more effort. 

One other area I am very guilty of comparing is with Sarah.  She's little.  I mean REALLY little.  At her 21 month doctor's visit, she just touched 18 pounds on the scale.  I notice how well other kids her age speak and although she does talk, it doesn't match up to the other kids around her.  Also, her hair.  Or should I say the lack of it.  Just a few wisps on the top and back but nothing to speak of.  *sigh*  I know that she is perfect and that she will come out on her own but it is tough at times. 

God, help me remember that she is truly Yours and that she has no faults in Your eyes.  Help me feel and think the same way... all the time.